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Star Trek's Anthony Rapp and Wilson Cruz open up about the iconic show's first ever gay kiss

"I wanted to see a character on TV who reflected my life back to me."

2018-01-04

Star Trek's Anthony Rapp and Wilson Cruz made TV history in December when they were part of the iconic sci-fi show's first ever gay kiss.

The two accomplished actors both appear on the cover of Attitude's Travel Issue - available to download and buy in shops now - where they open up about how they felt being part of such an important landmark moment in the show's lengthy history.

Star Trek debuted all the way back in 1966, and through numerous TV internations and blockbuster films it's gone on to become arguably the most popular TV series ever made.

The show's many LGBT+ fans had never seen a relationship between two male characters depicted on-screen, but Star Trek: Discovery finally put an end to that with the relationship between science officer and fungal expert Lieutenant Stamets and his partner, medical officer Dr. Hugh Culber.

"We were very much aware that there had never been a male-on-male kiss in Star Trek before. We had conversations with the producers, asking if this was going to happen. A few episodes in we asked again, and they replied 'yes, absolutely'" Rapp tells Attitude.

"When it happened it was a good time, it was earned and had a meaningful impact, and it was satisfying. If it had happened earlier, it probably wouldn't have had the same meaning.

"I appreciated the relationship was revealed in subtle ways, it was part of the fabric of the ship. The trek community has a vibrant LGBT+ segment to it, and people were really gratified that it was presented in a direct, uncomplicated and human way."

Rapp's co-star Wilson Cruz, who was the first openly gay actor to play a gay character on a mainstream US TV series in 1994's My So-Called Life, goes on to explain why he believes it's so important to have proper LGBT+ representation in the media.

Anthony Rapp and Wilson Cruz, shot for Attitude's February issue by Leigh Keily

“I wanted to see a character on TV who reflected my life back to me. Growing up, I wanted to see two men love each other and share a life, and have the same ups and downs that their heterosexual counterparts had," he says.

"The fact that I got to be that change in the world was and is the greatest thrill to me."

You can read the the full exclusive interview with Anthony Rapp and Wilson Cruz in the Travel issue of Attitude – out now. Buy in print, subscribe or download.

Accompanying the issue is our Great British Escape travel brochure, in association with Hertz, which you can also download for free.